Distinguished Professional Colleagues, Ladies and gentlemen, all protocol duly observed.
I am delighted to be here standing before you this day to give my stewardship report and handover leadership of this great society to Shehu Kabiru and his team who shall continue in leadership from the point I stopped to a greater height.
Looking back from the Start of this journey, in the midst of the pandemic was one of the most challenging and difficult task I have ever thought I would handle. It felt like a point of no return, a destination to No where. It was a time of uncertainty, fear, worry and regret of coming into leadership at such a time. If I had my way, I never wanted to be handed over to at such a time.
The reality set in when I drafted my acceptance speech. Just one thing struck me which I knew then was the truth, that I was the President.
How I was going to start, what I would do and how I was going to adjust was all to me, like tales in the moonlight. I trusted God to see me through and was encouraged by my husband not to give up and pull through one step at a time.
At every interval, I had two planned programs drawn up. How it should be, and alternative ways to go around it. I was prepared for changes and honestly, it was never stable but some how, we always pulled through all and today, it’s our tenure is over and we have contributed our quarter in ensuring that ASSP Nigerian Chapter achives the purpose to which she was established.
I also established in Nigeria Chapter, Women in Safety Excellence (WISE) and Young Emerging Professionals Forum. They are both common interest groups in ASSP. This groups help promote mentoring of women and young professionals by building their career path as well as promote professional growth among members.
I Establish ASSP Nigeria Chapter Research Group that will continuously look at relative issues and find solutions to them through extensive research. We are currently researching on mental health challenges and it’s management in Nigeria.
To my dear professionals, over and over again, I say a big thank you to all who came all out, Participated in activities, attended meetings, technical sessions, presentations, volunteered, supported, donated and most of all gave your time and resources at various events during the year under review. I am grateful.
I had a great team of elected and appointed executives. I set up 10 committees and choose leaders who in turn selected members they could work with in achieving their committee objectives. Indeed, they were great and did excellently well. They worked tirelessly in ensuring that our aim and objectives were met, while we did not only achieve our goals, but we exceeded them. To my team, I say a big thank you once again.
Anchoring on your support, we were able to achieve the following together, organize programs that Impacted the lives of Safety Professionals through the ASSP Platform.
We grew our network, by sending reminders for renewals, and registering new members, impacted knowledge and developed human capacity through various programs. We had 24 members renewed thier membership, 63 new members joined ASSP-NC, 30 students joined the student session.
So far, within this time frame, we have been able to:
- Increase the level of safety advocacy and synergise with government establishment and enforcement agencies to promote safety and establish relationships between these bodies and our society.
- We set up programs to promote Public Safety with in Private and Public Sector in order to close major safety gaps identified.
- We emphasized Public Safety Practices to artisans, schools and local industries to promote a safer and better country.
- We synergized with OSHA Global to Provide Training for leaders and safety professionals.
- We Organized 3 Webinars.
- We had 7 Technical Sessions and Presentations.
- We organized 26 Knowledge Sharing Series (from various Practice Specialties connected with the American Society of Safety Professionals Practice Specialties at global level ).
- We Held 6 Bi-monthly Meetings, 3 virtual and 3 in person and virtual meetings.
- We Held so far, 22 Executive /Extended Meetings.
- We held the Maiden Virtual Workshops/Seminars for Women in Safety Excellence and Young Emerging Professionals.
- Organized ASSP Nigeria Chapter Annual Professional Development Conference with over 190 in attendance and a total of 350 people in attendance both in person and online.
- We gave 147 Awards of honor, appreciation and recognition to members in different categories during the award dinner.
- We Established the First Occupational Safety and Health Electronics Library in Nigeria for Occupational Safety and Health Professionals.
- We Relocated the ASSP Office from her paid place to a new space provided by PTI management in appreciation for the laudable e-library provided for the school. This space have been well furnished to a standard that befits the organization.
- We Visited Several Organizations and Companies to build cordial relationships to promote safety practices in Nigeria.
- We Called a Stakeholders Meeting of all Safety Professionals bodies in Nigeria to look into the issue of Public Safety and how we can make a difference in addressing identified issues and promote safety.
- Our media team created and managed ASSP NC social media handles, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Channel and WhatsApp groups for different communities. We streamed live all our programs and sessions via Facebook live and YouTube channels to ensure all Presentation are readily accessible and available online. Publicity of programs, flyers design and synchronization of platforms were all done.
- We shared Job opportunities with members and aided 3 ASSP-NC Members get job through our intervention.
- We worked closely with our student session members and ensured their growth and development within occupational health and safety.
- We represented ASSP-NC in other programs held by organizations and govt ministries.
- We attended Global and regional meetings for leaders ensured a Happy Professional Family through Networking, Face to Face and Visual Meetings. All this were made possible working with a wonderful team and dedicated professionals who gave their best in ensuring that I succeeded.
- We had established for ASSP Nigerian Chapter, Electronic Library for Occupational Safety and Health Professionals in Nigeria to be accessed by all ASSP Members and Students, Professionals from other Bodies, Petroleum Training Institute Staff, and other individuals who require to seek knowledge from the Library. This project was completed in May and Commissioned on the 19th June 2021.
- We also relocated ASSP Nigeria Chapter Office to a more befitting environment under the courtesy of PTI Management who gave us the space to site our office. This office have been equipped and finished and also commissioned on the 19th June, 2021.
All this were made possible working with a wonderful team and dedicated professionals who gave their best in ensuring that I succeeded. In all, I am grateful to God for the enabling grace to achieve all this during the year of my leadership.
Countless thanks to my husband and family for their understanding and support throughout this period. To my Executives, thanks for working smoothly with me.
Thank you for your corporation and sacrifices made. To my past leaders, thanks for being there always. To my committee heads, you were wonderful and gave your best. I appreciate you all.
Mrs Mercy Omoifo-Irefo
Outgoing President ASSP Nigeria Chapter 2020-2021